Kapitel 16: The Carnival of Shadows
The Seabreeze Carnival bustled with the joyful noise of laughter, music, and ringing games. Families wandered between booths, children begged for cotton candy, and the bright lights of the Ferris wheel spun against the night sky. It was a perfect evening—until Elias Kain stepped onto the grounds.
He looked unassuming at first—dressed in a crisp black coat, his posture relaxed, and a faint smile playing on his lips. Just another man blending into the crowd. But beneath his calm exterior, a storm brewed.
Kain's sharp eyes scanned the festive surroundings, watching the crowds weave through games and rides. Perfect. This place was a stage—a spectacle waiting to unfold. He moved leisurely toward the heart of the carnival, his steps deliberate but unhurried, as if savoring the final moments of calm.
With a subtle motion, he reached into the folds of his coat and pulled out an artifact: The Heart of Typhon. It was a small, jagged gemstone pulsing with crimson light, like a beating heart submerged in molten lava. Power radiated from it—wild, ancient, and corrupt. It whispered promises of dominance, urging him forward.
This time, there would be no retreat. This time, he would claim what was rightfully his.
The crowd parted around him without realizing why—parents nudged their kids away instinctively, and game vendors felt uneasy without understanding the source of their discomfort. Kain thrived on that subtle fear. It was the shadow that always followed him, unnoticed until it swallowed you whole.
He reached the central plaza where the carnival's security team kept an eye on the evening's events. A group of guards, noticing him loitering, approached.
"Hey, buddy. You lost?" one of them asked, his tone friendly but wary.
Kain smiled—slow, deliberate, like a predator before the strike. "Not at all. In fact, I'm right where I need to be."
The guard exchanged a look with his partner. "Look, sir, this is private property. If you don't have a reason to be here—"
Before the man could finish his sentence, Kain raised his hand. The shadows shifted.
Darkness peeled away from beneath carnival booths and crept out from under the rides, swirling around Kain's feet like smoke. From the shadows emerged monstrous figures—the Furies. Their smokey forms twisted unnaturally, their glowing red eyes burning with malice. They moved silently, spreading across the carnival grounds like a black plague.
"What the hell—?" one guard managed to mutter before a Fury lunged.
The creature's claws raked across his chest, sending him flying into a row of metal trash bins with a sickening crash. Another guard reached for his radio, but a second Fury snatched him by the throat, lifting him effortlessly into the air before slamming him to the ground.
Kain watched, unbothered by the screams and chaos unfolding around him. The guards were dispatched within moments—some dead, others left scrambling for their lives. It wasn't even a contest.
The crowd's festive mood shattered in an instant. People screamed, running in every direction as the Furies spread through the carnival, flipping over booths and tearing apart attractions with gleeful abandon. Lights flickered and died. The laughter that had once filled the air was now replaced with panic and confusion.
Kain stood calmly in the center of it all, watching the pandemonium unfold with quiet satisfaction. This is how you send a message.
He reached into his coat again, this time pulling out a microphone connected to the carnival's PA system. He tapped it twice, the sound crackling over the speakers, making the scattered carnival-goers freeze.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Kain's smooth, confident voice echoed over the loudspeakers. "I apologize for the disruption to your evening entertainment… but it seems we have an unexpected guest I've been hoping to find."
He paused, letting the silence stretch just long enough to stir unease.
"Shazam. If you're out there—and I know you are—come find me. I have… a proposition for you."
He gave a slight wave of his hand, and the Furies dragged a group of children from a nearby funhouse. The kids whimpered, their faces pale with fear as the monsters herded them to the center of the plaza. Parents shouted in desperation, but the Furies kept them at bay, claws poised to strike if anyone got too close.
Kain smiled coldly. "I'll give you some incentive." He gestured to the children, his voice remaining calm. "Come out of hiding, Shazam. Or I start breaking things. And by things, I mean them."
The crowd erupted into frantic cries, parents begging for mercy. But Kain didn't flinch. He was calm—too calm. This was all part of the plan. The fear, the chaos… it was just the beginning.
He slipped the Heart of Typhon back into his coat, feeling its dark energy pulse through him. Soon, he would have what he came for. James's powers—the strength of a god—would be his to wield.
And what better way to call the champion out of hiding than to turn his city into a nightmare? Every news station in New York would be covering this by the hour's end. James would have no choice but to show himself.
Kain took a deep breath, savoring the moment. It wouldn't be long now. James would come—heroes always did. That was the thing about heroes. They could never resist the call.
But this time, when James came, he wouldn't leave.
This time, Kain would strip the power from him.
This time, the Heart of Typhon would ensure that Shazam's strength—his courage, his speed, his lightning—belonged to Elias Kain.
And when it was over, the city would know his name.
He lifted the microphone again, his voice calm but carrying an edge of menace.
"Clock's ticking, champion. Come find me… if you dare."
The Ferris wheel, once spinning brightly against the night sky, ground to a halt as the power flickered and died. The carnival was consumed in shadow, and at the heart of it stood Elias Kain, waiting.
Waiting for the fight that would change everything.
---
Rebecca and Marcus stood outside the temple. The ancient structure loomed over them, its cracked stone walls and intricate carvings humming with a quiet, mystical presence.
"Alright, Elaria, where are you?" Rebecca muttered, scanning the shadowed corners for the elusive monk. The temple felt as indifferent as ever—silent except for the soft trickling of a nearby fountain.
Marcus leaned casually against the wall, hands tucked in his jacket pockets. "Relax," he said with his trademark grin. "This place isn't exactly Amazon Prime. Elaria will show up eventually."
Rebecca scowled. "We don't have time to wait around, Marcus! James is out there—who knows where—and we need answers before someone else finds him first."
Marcus shrugged, still unfazed. "Come on, Rebecca. You know James. He's probably off somewhere brooding, working through his existential crisis. He's fine." He stretched his legs, looking way too comfortable given the circumstances. "I mean, he has been known to get all 'woe is me' sometimes."
Rebecca shot him a look sharp enough to cut glass. "This isn't one of those times."
She turned toward a group of monks sitting cross-legged in silent meditation. "Excuse me," she said, trying to sound polite despite her mounting frustration. "Do you know where I can find a monk named Elaria?"
Silence.
"She's, uh… young, maybe nineteen? Wears simple robes? Very mysterious vibe?" she tried again, her voice rising slightly in pitch.
The monks didn't move a muscle. Their eyes stayed closed, as if she weren't even there.
Rebecca clenched her fists. "Ugh, seriously?!"
Marcus chuckled softly, earning himself a withering glare. "Maybe they took a vow of silence after realizing you work for the Bugle."
Rebecca shot him a really, dude? look. "Thanks for that, Marcus. Really helpful." She plopped down on a nearby bench, folding her arms, her frustration rolling off her in waves.
Marcus settled beside her, relaxed as ever. After a moment, he gave her a sideways glance, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "So… who was that guy who kicked James's ass, anyway?"
Rebecca let out a slow breath, organizing her thoughts. "His name's Elias Kain. Some kind of criminal mastermind. SHIELD told me he's involved with all those disappearances. And apparently, he's the one sending those creepy shadow things after James."
Marcus's carefree expression faltered, just a little. "Great. A crime boss with a personal vendetta. Just what we needed." He ran a hand through his hair. "And he's stronger than James, huh?"
"Yeah." Rebecca's voice was heavy with worry. "You can say that. Kain wiped the floor with him." She bit her lip, anxiety gnawing at her. "He's not just after James—he wants his powers. And I don't think he's gonna stop until he gets them."
Before Marcus could respond, Rebecca's phone buzzed. The screen lit up with the name J. Jameson.
"Oh no, what does he want?" she muttered, already dreading the conversation.
"Maybe a dinner date?" Marcus quipped. "You know James would be jealous."
Rebecca gave him a flat look that shut him up instantly.
She answered the call, bracing herself for whatever chaos Jameson had in store.
"Martinez! Where the hell are you?!" Jonah's voice roared through the speaker, full of his usual bombastic energy.
"Nice to hear from you too, boss," Rebecca muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"There's a big story breaking, and you're not on it! What do I pay you for?!"
"Uh… what story?" Rebecca asked, glancing at Marcus, who arched a curious eyebrow.
"That freak from earlier—the dark magic freak. He's taken over a carnival on the outskirts of the city!" Jameson barked, his voice laced with urgency. "He's got hostages—kids—and he's calling out for the champion. Whatever the hell that means."
Rebecca's heart dropped into her stomach. "Kain."
"And I want you there now! Get me some photos. Some real ones, not that phone garbage!" Jonah demanded.
"Photos? I am not—"
He abruptly hung up.
Rebecca stared at her phone, the weight of the situation crashing down on her. "He's taken children hostage," she whispered, her voice thick with disbelief.
Marcus straightened, his easygoing demeanor evaporating. "We gotta find James. Now."
Rebecca nodded, already rising to her feet. Her heart pounded in her chest, a cold knot of fear forming in her gut.
"We find him," Marcus said, running a hand through his hair, "but then what? You saw what happened last time. Kain wrecked him. And we don't exactly have a Plan B."
"I know." Rebecca's voice was tight, anxiety threatening to overwhelm her. "But James is the only one who can stop Kain. And right now, no one knows where he is—not even us."
She swallowed hard, the weight of their predicament pressing down on her. "But we have to try. We don't have a choice."
Marcus gave her a reassuring nod, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "Then let's go. We find James—and this time, we do things right."
With renewed determination, they raced out of the temple and into the city, their minds sharp with fear but fueled by hope. The stakes were higher than ever, and failure wasn't an option. Kain had drawn a line in the sand, and they needed to find James—before it was too late.
The carnival loomed ahead, full of shadows, danger, and unanswered questions.
---
Spoiler ahead...
They won't find James, just sayin~
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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